University City District Receives $440,000 Grant to Assist Businesses
News Release
UNIVERSITY CITY DISTRICT RECEIVES $440,000 GRANT TO ASSIST BUSINESSES
Contact: Allison Kelsey
Marketing Director, University City District
(day) 215 243 0555 x232; (eve) 215 668 8798
For Immediate Release
Philadelphia, 20 June 2002 – University City District today announced a two-year effort to enhance the commercial corridors of Baltimore and Lancaster Avenues by working with local merchants, nonprofit organizations, and others.
The effort is being supported by a $440,000 grant from The William Penn Foundation.
UCD plans to establish a corridor management office on each avenue by early July. Staff will coordinate corridor marketing and promotions, provide instruction on effective property maintenance, tackle recruitment and retention, and perform periodic improvement assessments. On Lancaster Avenue, UCD’s efforts will focus from 34th to 38th Streets and will be coordinated with People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corp. (PEC-CDC) from 38th to 42nd Street. On Baltimore Avenue, the Baltimore Avenue Planning Group, Baltimore Avenue Business Association (BABA), and UCD will focus on the area from 45th to 53rd Streets.
Both corridors run through densely populated neighborhoods whose residents and workers have identified through surveys a desire for a greater range of goods and services offered and for improvements to the physical appearance of the blocks. A primary goal of this initiative is to create conditions conducive to increasing local retail and service spending. According to research conducted by UCD, the neighborhood population spends less than 20% of its disposable income in its own community.
UCD corridor manager staff will meet with the merchants and related associations. BABA will gather on June 27th to prioritize corridor projects; Lancaster Avenue businesses, who are at an earlier stage of planning, will meet to identify common goals.Improving its neighborhood commercial corridors is a top item in the UCD’s strategic plan, said executive director Eric Goldstein, RLA. "For 5 years, UCD has worked to improve cleanliness and public safety, and we’ve had terrific results across the district. Many businesses who recognize the changes have approached us to help them expand their reach, improve their appearance, and enhance their bottom line. This generous grant now enables us to respond comprehensively," explained Goldstein.
The health of local "main streets" such as Baltimore and Lancaster Avenues is essential to keeping area residents and employees satisfied with their communities. University City’s residential growth of the past 10 years has increased the need for quality retail even more. During this period:
- rental occupancy increased from 90% to 98.5%
- although the city overall lost residents, University City gained 1,000 residents, and
- graduate students living in University City increased by 3.5%.
UCD and its partners want to ensure that University City remains a neighborhood of choice for individuals and families.
University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City's diverse urban community. UCD's programs to improve streetscapes and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City's advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997. UCD is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3). For more information, visit UCityphila.org.
Founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, The William Penn Foundation promotes understanding of and action on important issues facing the Philadelphia region, in order to advance dynamic and diverse communities that provide meaningful opportunity, and to improve the region’s quality of life. Through its grantmaking and other efforts, the Foundation strengthens our children’s future, fosters rich cultural expression, and deepens our connections to nature and community. For more information, call 215 988 1830; email to moreinfo@wpennfdn.org; or visit www.wpennfdn.org.
Release Date: Thursday, June 20th 2002
